Measuring the level of circularity within a nation state

Austria is first nation to measure Circularity Gap. “Circle Economy” and “Alstoff Recycling Austria” (ARA) announced on the 19th June the release of Circularity Gap Report Austria, the first measure of circularity for a nation state. This landmark report paves the way for nations to lead the transition from a linear economy of Take-Make-Waste to a circular economy.

The analysis, commissioned by ARA, found a circularity rate for Austria of 9.7%, ahead of the figure of 9.1% in Circle Economy’s Global Circularity Gap report published in January 2019. The Austria report will enable political and business leaders to identify and monitor the best interventions to boost the circularity rate, the proportion of materials that are recycled, re-used and re-manufactured in the Austrian economy.

Since no previous attempts have been made to measure the level of circularity within a nation state, this landmark report paves the way for state-led collaboration towards circularity. The document identifies for the Austrian political and business community the best interventions to improve circularity and how to monitor their implementation and impact.

Analysis performed for the Austrian economy leads to a circularity rate of 9.7%, slightly above the global average. To boost Austria’s circularity four action perspectives were explored:

1. Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable resources.
2. Recycling of all recyclable waste.
3. Shifting to an economy that maintains its current building and infrastructure, rather than building new.
4. Ensuring imports with higher secondary content.

Combined, these four action perspectives can boost Austria’s circularity rate from the current 9.7% to 37.4%.

More info: https://www.circle-economy.com/circle-economy-adapts-methodology-of-global-circularity-metric-for-nation-states/#.XRDWDOhKiCg
Dowload the report here: https://circle-economy.com/circularity-gap-report-austria